[Music] I think the worst possible way to start
I think the worst possible way to start
I think the worst possible way to start a talk would be by asking the audience
a talk would be by asking the audience
a talk would be by asking the audience to do some mental arithmetic so I
to do some mental arithmetic so I
to do some mental arithmetic so I apologize because that’s exactly what
apologize because that’s exactly what
apologize because that’s exactly what I’d like to do if you don’t mind play
I’d like to do if you don’t mind play
I’d like to do if you don’t mind play along and add the following simple
along and add the following simple
along and add the following simple sequence of numbers quietly in your head
sequence of numbers quietly in your head
sequence of numbers quietly in your head here we go what is a thousand plus forty
here we go what is a thousand plus forty
here we go what is a thousand plus forty plus a thousand plus thirty plus a
plus a thousand plus thirty plus a
plus a thousand plus thirty plus a thousand plus twenty plus a thousand
thousand plus twenty plus a thousand
thousand plus twenty plus a thousand plus ten thank you so please raise your
plus ten thank you so please raise your
plus ten thank you so please raise your hand if you arrived at the answer of
hand if you arrived at the answer of
hand if you arrived at the answer of five thousand great please raise your
five thousand great please raise your
five thousand great please raise your hand if you arrived at the answer four
hand if you arrived at the answer four
hand if you arrived at the answer four thousand one hundred okay so maybe 60
thousand one hundred okay so maybe 60
thousand one hundred okay so maybe 60 forty percent I would say so what
forty percent I would say so what
forty percent I would say so what happens there is when you’re adding the
happens there is when you’re adding the
happens there is when you’re adding the last two numbers four thousand and
last two numbers four thousand and
last two numbers four thousand and ninety plus ten you miscarry the one and
ninety plus ten you miscarry the one and
ninety plus ten you miscarry the one and arrive at the incorrect answer five
arrive at the incorrect answer five
arrive at the incorrect answer five thousand now this is a gratuitous
thousand now this is a gratuitous
thousand now this is a gratuitous example because I don’t think anybody
example because I don’t think anybody
example because I don’t think anybody needed any evidence that we suck at
needed any evidence that we suck at
needed any evidence that we suck at mental arithmetic it doesn’t matter if
mental arithmetic it doesn’t matter if
mental arithmetic it doesn’t matter if you’re a genius
you’re a genius
you’re a genius or a savant or how much you practice no
or a savant or how much you practice no
or a savant or how much you practice no human will ever perform numerical
human will ever perform numerical
human will ever perform numerical calculations as quickly and accurately
calculations as quickly and accurately
calculations as quickly and accurately as a computer the question is why your
as a computer the question is why your
as a computer the question is why your brain is the most complex device in the
brain is the most complex device in the
brain is the most complex device in the known universe you can recognize faces
known universe you can recognize faces
known universe you can recognize faces understand speech think create can even
understand speech think create can even
understand speech think create can even juggle all of those things are vastly
juggle all of those things are vastly
juggle all of those things are vastly more complicated than mental addition
more complicated than mental addition
more complicated than mental addition the standard answer to this question is
the standard answer to this question is
the standard answer to this question is that we didn’t involve to do math this
that we didn’t involve to do math this
that we didn’t involve to do math this is exactly true of course the mammalian
is exactly true of course the mammalian
is exactly true of course the mammalian brain evolved to do things like pattern
brain evolved to do things like pattern
brain evolved to do things like pattern recognition discriminate a branch from a
recognition discriminate a branch from a
recognition discriminate a branch from a snake not to calculate that the
snake not to calculate that the
snake not to calculate that the circumference of the snake equals two PI
circumference of the snake equals two PI
circumference of the snake equals two PI R but I don’t think the lack of
R but I don’t think the lack of
R but I don’t think the lack of evolutionary pressure is the full answer
evolutionary pressure is the full answer
evolutionary pressure is the full answer rather I think neuroscience gives us a
rather I think neuroscience gives us a
rather I think neuroscience gives us a deeper answer
deeper answer
deeper answer or science as you know is the study of
or science as you know is the study of
or science as you know is the study of the brain and neuroscience is very
the brain and neuroscience is very
the brain and neuroscience is very unique field right it’s the only field
unique field right it’s the only field
unique field right it’s the only field in science in which the thing being
in science in which the thing being
in science in which the thing being studied is also doing the studying and
studied is also doing the studying and
studied is also doing the studying and this means that neuroscientists are
this means that neuroscientists are
this means that neuroscientists are studying themselves which makes
studying themselves which makes
studying themselves which makes neuroscience a bunch of narcissists
neuroscience a bunch of narcissists
neuroscience a bunch of narcissists but neuroscientists do often view the
but neuroscientists do often view the
but neuroscientists do often view the brain as a computational device so has
brain as a computational device so has
brain as a computational device so has inputs our hands our eyes and our ears
inputs our hands our eyes and our ears
inputs our hands our eyes and our ears it stores memories and generates outputs
it stores memories and generates outputs
it stores memories and generates outputs but the brains architecture is entirely
but the brains architecture is entirely
but the brains architecture is entirely different from a standard digital
different from a standard digital
different from a standard digital computer for one the brain is not made
computer for one the brain is not made
computer for one the brain is not made of transistors the brain is made up of
of transistors the brain is made up of
of transistors the brain is made up of neurons so neurons have their dendrites
neurons so neurons have their dendrites
neurons so neurons have their dendrites and their axons the inputs and outputs
and their axons the inputs and outputs
and their axons the inputs and outputs and they communicate through each other
and they communicate through each other
and they communicate through each other through synapses one of the reasons were
through synapses one of the reasons were
through synapses one of the reasons were bad at numerical calculations is that no
bad at numerical calculations is that no
bad at numerical calculations is that no engineer would ever use these things to
engineer would ever use these things to
engineer would ever use these things to build a calculator they are noisy
build a calculator they are noisy
build a calculator they are noisy they’re slow they have a lot of
they’re slow they have a lot of
they’re slow they have a lot of crosstalk and they don’t work well as
crosstalk and they don’t work well as
crosstalk and they don’t work well as switches but fortunately neurons are
switches but fortunately neurons are
switches but fortunately neurons are good at other things like making
good at other things like making
good at other things like making associations and that’s because each
associations and that’s because each
associations and that’s because each neuron can communicate with thousands
neuron can communicate with thousands
neuron can communicate with thousands and thousands of others and because
and thousands of others and because
and thousands of others and because neurons that fire together wire together
neurons that fire together wire together
neurons that fire together wire together so that means that if you have two
so that means that if you have two
so that means that if you have two stimuli such as the site of the rose and
stimuli such as the site of the rose and
stimuli such as the site of the rose and the smell of the rose and they activate
the smell of the rose and they activate
the smell of the rose and they activate different neurons because neurons that
different neurons because neurons that
different neurons because neurons that fire together wire together they might
fire together wire together they might
fire together wire together they might connect to each other making an
connect to each other making an
connect to each other making an association if neurons are good at
association if neurons are good at
association if neurons are good at making associations you should be too so
making associations you should be too so
making associations you should be too so let me prove to you that that’s the case
let me prove to you that that’s the case
let me prove to you that that’s the case I’m going to ask you three questions
I’m going to ask you three questions
I’m going to ask you three questions there’s simple questions please answer
there’s simple questions please answer
there’s simple questions please answer out loud and for the last one just
out loud and for the last one just
out loud and for the last one just answer the first thing that pops into
answer the first thing that pops into
answer the first thing that pops into your head in what continent is Kenya
what are the two opposing colors in the
what are the two opposing colors in the game of chess think of any animal
great so I heard a lot of zebras I heard
great so I heard a lot of zebras I heard some animals from Africa so those were
some animals from Africa so those were
some animals from Africa so those were your answers because you’re good at
your answers because you’re good at
your answers because you’re good at making associations my point is is that
making associations my point is is that
making associations my point is is that to understand why we’re good at some
to understand why we’re good at some
to understand why we’re good at some things like making associations and bad
things like making associations and bad
things like making associations and bad at others like mental arithmetic we need
at others like mental arithmetic we need
at others like mental arithmetic we need to understand how our brains are built
to understand how our brains are built
to understand how our brains are built and that this is really important
and that this is really important
and that this is really important because what the brain is good at and
because what the brain is good at and
because what the brain is good at and bad at has a profound effect on the
bad at has a profound effect on the
bad at has a profound effect on the world in which we live if we were going
world in which we live if we were going
world in which we live if we were going to make a list of society’s most serious
to make a list of society’s most serious
to make a list of society’s most serious problems it would probably include
problems it would probably include
problems it would probably include things like failure to adjust climate
things like failure to adjust climate
things like failure to adjust climate change health issues such as obesity and
change health issues such as obesity and
change health issues such as obesity and addiction irrational fear of GMOs and
addiction irrational fear of GMOs and
addiction irrational fear of GMOs and vaccines war and terrorism and the fact
vaccines war and terrorism and the fact
vaccines war and terrorism and the fact that we sometimes elect leaders that are
that we sometimes elect leaders that are
that we sometimes elect leaders that are either incompetent or self-serving now
either incompetent or self-serving now
either incompetent or self-serving now do these problems have something in
do these problems have something in
do these problems have something in common
common
common absolutely they’re caused by our
absolutely they’re caused by our
absolutely they’re caused by our decisions and our decisions our product
decisions and our decisions our product
decisions and our decisions our product of our brain so in a way those societal
of our brain so in a way those societal
of our brain so in a way those societal problems reflect how our brains work our
problems reflect how our brains work our
problems reflect how our brains work our brains aren’t perfect
brains aren’t perfect
brains aren’t perfect we have many biases flaws and glitches
we have many biases flaws and glitches
we have many biases flaws and glitches which I will refer to as brain bugs let
which I will refer to as brain bugs let
which I will refer to as brain bugs let me give you an example of a brain bug
me give you an example of a brain bug
me give you an example of a brain bug answer the following question quickly
answer the following question quickly
answer the following question quickly what do cows drink okay so the parts the
what do cows drink okay so the parts the
what do cows drink okay so the parts the circuits in your brain that just thought
circuits in your brain that just thought
circuits in your brain that just thought of milk and I know you did are referred
of milk and I know you did are referred
of milk and I know you did are referred to as the automatic system and they’re
to as the automatic system and they’re
to as the automatic system and they’re driven by associations and emotions the
driven by associations and emotions the
driven by associations and emotions the circuits in your brain that just that
circuits in your brain that just that
circuits in your brain that just that thought that said whoa whoa wait a
thought that said whoa whoa wait a
thought that said whoa whoa wait a minute the answers water or referred to
minute the answers water or referred to
minute the answers water or referred to as the reflective system if you need to
as the reflective system if you need to
as the reflective system if you need to guess somebody’s age just by looking at
guess somebody’s age just by looking at
guess somebody’s age just by looking at them your automatic system is pretty
them your automatic system is pretty
them your automatic system is pretty good but if you need to decide on who to
good but if you need to decide on who to
good but if you need to decide on who to vote for or how much save for retirement
vote for or how much save for retirement
vote for or how much save for retirement you shouldn’t rely on your automatic
you shouldn’t rely on your automatic
you shouldn’t rely on your automatic system because your automatic system is
system because your automatic system is
system because your automatic system is very biased and short-sighted ultimately
very biased and short-sighted ultimately
very biased and short-sighted ultimately we don’t understand how the brain makes
we don’t understand how the brain makes
we don’t understand how the brain makes even simple decisions much less much
even simple decisions much less much
even simple decisions much less much less complex decisions but we know that
less complex decisions but we know that
less complex decisions but we know that we often make bad
we often make bad
we often make bad decisions decisions that are not in our
decisions decisions that are not in our
decisions decisions that are not in our own best interest consider for example
own best interest consider for example
own best interest consider for example that in the 20th century a hundred
that in the 20th century a hundred
that in the 20th century a hundred million people died of cigarette related
million people died of cigarette related
million people died of cigarette related causes and every year in the United
causes and every year in the United
causes and every year in the United States approximately 500,000 people died
States approximately 500,000 people died
States approximately 500,000 people died of cigarette related causes compared to
of cigarette related causes compared to
of cigarette related causes compared to approximately three hundred people who
approximately three hundred people who
approximately three hundred people who died a year due to terrorism when we
died a year due to terrorism when we
died a year due to terrorism when we start to smoke are we making a decision
start to smoke are we making a decision
start to smoke are we making a decision that’s in our own best interest or in
that’s in our own best interest or in
that’s in our own best interest or in the best interest of the tobacco
the best interest of the tobacco
the best interest of the tobacco companies when we smoke we’re giving up
companies when we smoke we’re giving up
companies when we smoke we’re giving up our money and health with very little in
our money and health with very little in
our money and health with very little in return so I think it’s fair to say that
return so I think it’s fair to say that
return so I think it’s fair to say that we smoke because it’s in the best
we smoke because it’s in the best
we smoke because it’s in the best interest of the tobacco companies but
interest of the tobacco companies but
interest of the tobacco companies but how did this come to be well it started
how did this come to be well it started
how did this come to be well it started because in the beginning of the 20th
because in the beginning of the 20th
because in the beginning of the 20th century there was a revolution
century there was a revolution
century there was a revolution advertisers and propagandists figured
advertisers and propagandists figured
advertisers and propagandists figured out how to effectively sway and
out how to effectively sway and
out how to effectively sway and manipulate our opinions and decisions to
manipulate our opinions and decisions to
manipulate our opinions and decisions to suit their own best interests just as a
suit their own best interests just as a
suit their own best interests just as a digital computer can be exploited by a
digital computer can be exploited by a
digital computer can be exploited by a virus to do things it wasn’t intended
virus to do things it wasn’t intended
virus to do things it wasn’t intended for the human brain can be exploited by
for the human brain can be exploited by
for the human brain can be exploited by advertising propaganda fear-mongering
advertising propaganda fear-mongering
advertising propaganda fear-mongering and populism to do things that are not
and populism to do things that are not
and populism to do things that are not in its own best interest perhaps the
in its own best interest perhaps the
in its own best interest perhaps the most serious consequence of our brain
most serious consequence of our brain
most serious consequence of our brain bugs is in the context of the democratic
bugs is in the context of the democratic
bugs is in the context of the democratic process
process
process if we can’t elect competent leaders we
if we can’t elect competent leaders we
if we can’t elect competent leaders we can’t address society’s problems and
can’t address society’s problems and
can’t address society’s problems and when we vote our automatic system is
when we vote our automatic system is
when we vote our automatic system is often influenced by irrelevant factors
often influenced by irrelevant factors
often influenced by irrelevant factors such as advertising and propaganda fear
such as advertising and propaganda fear
such as advertising and propaganda fear familiarity and fake news we don’t
familiarity and fake news we don’t
familiarity and fake news we don’t understand why it can be so easy to
understand why it can be so easy to
understand why it can be so easy to manipulate our our opinions sometimes
manipulate our our opinions sometimes
manipulate our our opinions sometimes but I think there’s two factors that
but I think there’s two factors that
but I think there’s two factors that contribute first the brain is incredibly
contribute first the brain is incredibly
contribute first the brain is incredibly good at making associations and second
good at making associations and second
good at making associations and second we’re very good at learning by
we’re very good at learning by
we’re very good at learning by observation if you’re born in the Amazon
observation if you’re born in the Amazon
observation if you’re born in the Amazon you’re going to learn the local dialect
you’re going to learn the local dialect
you’re going to learn the local dialect and how to gather food in the forest if
and how to gather food in the forest if
and how to gather food in the forest if you’re born in England you’re going to
you’re born in England you’re going to
you’re born in England you’re going to learn English and to root for England
learn English and to root for England
learn English and to root for England during the World Cup
during the World Cup
during the World Cup so maybe animals are a bit smarter than
so maybe animals are a bit smarter than
so maybe animals are a bit smarter than us I think would be hard to talk a cat
us I think would be hard to talk a cat
us I think would be hard to talk a cat into smoking because by showing it
into smoking because by showing it
into smoking because by showing it pictures of other cute cats smoking but
pictures of other cute cats smoking but
pictures of other cute cats smoking but humans are of course the smartest
humans are of course the smartest
humans are of course the smartest species on the planet but what makes us
species on the planet but what makes us
species on the planet but what makes us smart is not that we know everything
smart is not that we know everything
smart is not that we know everything it’s that we can recognize our own
it’s that we can recognize our own
it’s that we can recognize our own ignorance we can know what we don’t know
ignorance we can know what we don’t know
ignorance we can know what we don’t know intelligence isn’t about knowing all the
intelligence isn’t about knowing all the
intelligence isn’t about knowing all the answers sometimes about realizing how
answers sometimes about realizing how
answers sometimes about realizing how complex problems are and that we need to
complex problems are and that we need to
complex problems are and that we need to rely on experts to tell us the answer
rely on experts to tell us the answer
rely on experts to tell us the answer wisdom is in being able to distinguish
wisdom is in being able to distinguish
wisdom is in being able to distinguish the real experts from the fake experts
the real experts from the fake experts
the real experts from the fake experts your brain is solely responsible for
your brain is solely responsible for
your brain is solely responsible for your ability to make decisions to think
your ability to make decisions to think
your ability to make decisions to think create to feel pain and pleasure your
create to feel pain and pleasure your
create to feel pain and pleasure your brain is also responsible for whether or
brain is also responsible for whether or
brain is also responsible for whether or not you believe your brain is
not you believe your brain is
not you believe your brain is responsible for your ability to think
responsible for your ability to think
responsible for your ability to think create and pleasure this is hard to
create and pleasure this is hard to
create and pleasure this is hard to accept it’s hard to believe that I am my
accept it’s hard to believe that I am my
accept it’s hard to believe that I am my brain my brain is me but I think we have
brain my brain is me but I think we have
brain my brain is me but I think we have to accept this fact and recognize that
to accept this fact and recognize that
to accept this fact and recognize that in the same way that we’re not
in the same way that we’re not
in the same way that we’re not inherently good at voting or making
inherently good at voting or making
inherently good at voting or making health decisions or financial decisions
health decisions or financial decisions
health decisions or financial decisions any more than we’re inherently good at
any more than we’re inherently good at
any more than we’re inherently good at mental arithmetic recognizing this I
mental arithmetic recognizing this I
mental arithmetic recognizing this I think will help us make better decisions
think will help us make better decisions
think will help us make better decisions and better address society’s most
and better address society’s most
and better address society’s most serious problems thank you
”
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